Wherever wind speeds are likely to reach over 110 mph, coastal codes are now requiring an engineering analysis of the plans. In addition to shear, sliding, and overturning forces, the wind imparts intense uplift pressures. Ted Cushman examines how one Long Island architect has managed to meet the...

Anthony "Smokey" Saduk, a third-generation builder and carpenter extraordinaire, threw in all his chips to join the house-building partnership of Hallelfinger & Standeven Construction of Leesburg, N.J., bringing an expertise in project management and a focus on exteriors that has improved the...

Along the shore and intercoastal waterways, all sites are "difficult," requiring extra treatment for wastewater. Charles Wardell examines some of the more successful alternative treatment options that are being used by home builders up and down the coast.

New Jersey builder Tim Cross balances remodeling projects and new homes as a strategy for regulating his work flow and growing his business. His company, Merrick Construction, employs 10 high-end finish carpenters and turns out roughly $6 million per year in sales. Here, Cross reveals some of the...

Plastic trim is maintenance-free, even in unforgiving coastal climates ... assuming it’s installed correctly. Project Manager Jeff Kent explains how to achieve durable exterior details, and vows that once you learn how to use PVC, you’ll never go back to wood.

Coastal homes are prime targets for termite destruction. While builders and remodelers aren’t exterminators, they do play a key role in long-term termite control. Mitch Buroker reviews traditional deterrents and control strategies, and gives the scoop on new termite barriers, bait systems, and...

In the two decades since Patty McDaniel founded Boardwalk Builders in Rehoboth Beach, Del., she’s watched her remodeling business evolve from a small partnership to an award-winning enterprise with $2.8 million in sales and 17 regular employees. McDaniel discusses how the industry has changed...

Plastic and composite deck boards offer real advantages, but they require a builder’s savvy to choose and use. Here’s what the experts say about plastic lumber in the lab … and what type of performance you can expect to see in the real world.

The term “security system” takes on a meaning far beyond “burglar alarms” when you’re working on high-end beachfront resort homes that remain unoccupied for long periods. Such was the lesson learned when a fire devastated this historic house on Martha’s Vineyard. The rebuilt structure now includes...

Robert Criner, president of Criner Construction Co. in Yorktown, Va., had been in the residential remodeling business for more than 25 years when Hurricane Isabel hit in 2003 and brought everything to a thudding halt. He offers a few insights for coastal contractors on how to manage client...